Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Wednesday’s Gallagher Premiership against Bath Rugby.
Here’s what Alan had to say:
On the Bristol performance
- We did well in the first half and deservedly but we had three other scoring opportunities – two of them went to the TMO.
- There was then a massive momentum swing when Bristol scored two tries in the first ten minutes of the second half, both from breaks by Semi Radradra, the first from a scrum five metres from their line and the second from a scrum on their ten metres line.
- We turned over the ball 13 times in that second half and gave away six penalties so we could not build any pressure.
- To arrest those momentum swings we need to get field position and hold onto the ball for longer, reduce our penalty count and our turnovers as well
What do you make of Bath?
- They are a very well-balanced team with some big men up front.
- It’s never easy at The Rec.
How do you assess performances since the 2019/20 season resumed?
- I take a longer term view of things and this period has been massively beneficial for us.
- All our young players have been given valuable game time and they have been exposed to our new coaching staff.
- For a new coaching staff to have a substantive impact takes three months but I am already seeing the new systems that the coaching staff are bedding in having an impact.
- I can understand the frustration of supporters at our performances in the second half of games.
- We have to look at ourselves and stick to our processes and processes. At the moment if things go wrong we tend to go into our shells a little bit.
On the new coaching team
- Jonathan Thomas is a fantastic coach and he has taken on responsibility for our defence for the rest of this season. He has instilled a good defensive system which is system-based.
- Matt Sherratt has simplified our attack which has made a huge difference. The players have adjusted and adapted well.
- Mark Irish is an excellent technical scrum coach and Jonny Goodridge has come in as our new Academy Backs Transition Coach and also as our Skills Coach.
- But changes do not happen overnight. It takes at least three months to have a substantive impact. Going into the 2020/21 season we will be much better prepared as a result of the coaches having had this time to work with the players.
Are you still enjoying coaching?
- I love rugby. I watched my first game when I was about three or four years old. I just love the game.
- I worked as a lawyer for 20 years and I used to say that the law is my living but rugby is my life.
- I am enjoying working with our new coaching team. We have some great players here and we are building something here with all our young Worcester lads that I believe we are going to see the benefits of in years to come.
- I am very privileged to be able to do what I do.
Injuries
- GJ van Velze is still waiting to see a specialist to assess his dislocated shoulder.
- Joe Batley has an injury to a ligament in a foot under a big toe and should be back for the start of the 2020/21 season.
- Marco Mama has been out with an Achilles tendon injury and has now suffered a groin strain.
- Ed Fidow has recovered from hamstring and groin injuries and is available for selection.
- Jamie Shillcock will not play in the block of matches up to London Irish.
- Perry Humphreys has had an injection in his ankle and will also not play in this block of games.